Curtain rod support

ABSTRACT

A curtain rod, supported by brackets at each end, is provided with a central support which both supports the midportion of the rod and holds the rod in a position of balanced symmetry with respect to its supports. The center support comprises a base element that can be mounted on a wall and which has sides which extend outwardly from the wall. Each side has a socket cut into it and the sockets are axially aligned and adapted to receive the end of a curtain rod. Also an axially aligned hole is provided, communicating between the two sockets. Before mounting, a curtain rod is cut into two sections. One section is then inserted respectively into each socket and held in place by a fastening device which attaches to each rod end and passes through the hole.

United States Patent Di Panni, Jr.

[451 May 9,1972

Kenney Manufacturing Company, Warwick,R.I.

221 Filed: on. 19,1970

211 Appl.No.: 81,640

[73] A'ssignee:

52 user ..211/10s.1,24s/2s1 51 rm. C1. ..A47h 1/02 53 FieldofSearch ..211/1o5.1,1o5.3.123,13,

Lones ..2ll/l23 X Davis ..2ll/l23 Primary E.\'aminer-Nile C. Byers, Jr. Attorney-Russell & Nields ABSTRACT A curtain rod, supported by brackets at each end, is provided with a central support which both supports the midportion of the rod and holds the rod in a position of balanced symmetry with respect to its supports. The center support comprises a base element that can be mounted on a wall and which has sides which extend outwardly from the wall. Each side has a socket cut into it and the sockets are axially aligned and adapted to receive the end of a curtain rod. Also an axially aligned hole is provided, communicating between the two sockets. Before mounting, a curtain rod is cut into two sections. One section is then inserted respectively into each socket and held in place by a fastening device which attaches to each rod end and passes through the hole.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMY 9 I972 3,661 .272

' INVENTOR ATTORNEYS CURTAIN ROD SUPPORT BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to a combination of end and center supports for curtain rods, usually of the wooden pole type.

Modern methods of forming wooden pole curtain rods have created several appearance and structural problems in their use. It has not been found economically feasible to cut conventional curtain rods to precise lengths corresponding to the varying dimensions of the windows and doorways over which they are emplaced. Consequently, the rods are usually mounted with their ends extending beyond support brackets positioned on either side. In this position the only force opposing rod movement back and forth over the brackets is the slight frictional contact with the brackets, and the rod has a tendency to shift longitudinally off center once it has been positioned. A very noticeable and unattractive effect is thus created, since even relatively small shifts produce an assymmetrical appearance that stands out to the observer. Decorative attachments are usually affixed to either end of the rod and prevent it from completely falling off the brackets, but sort of this, do not stop lateral movement. Hence, it is an object of this invention to provide a curtain rod and support system in which the rod is held in a fixed position of balanced symmetry with respect to its supports.

Another problem is created by the tendency of curtain rods to sag in the middle under heavy curtain loadings or when placed across wide windows or doorways. An unattractive appearance is again presented, as well as the danger of the rod breaking. It is therefore a further object of this invention to provide a central support for a curtain rod adequate to secure said rod against vertical forces.

Prior support arrangements have either attacked the problem of longitudinal movement or of vertical sag, but no system was devised that could solve both problems at once. In fact, attempts at the solution of one have sometimes had a detrimental effect on the other. For example, in one prior effort to stop longitudinal movement a section was cut away from the middle of a curtain rod, and the rod rejoined centrally to provide a length calculated to bring the decorative end attachments into permanent contact with the end brackets. This did not prove satisfactory from an appearance point of view, and weakened both the rod and the end brackets. Rejoining the rod by fitting the free ends into a central sleeve also did not work out because it required a precise fit; wooden poles and sleeves cannot economically be cut to or maintained at an exact diameter. Other conventional center support brackets which gave vertical support included no means for effectively maintaining the rod in balanced longitudinal symmetry.

Since random variations must be expected in the diameters of curtain rods, it is also an object of my invention to provide a curtain rod support system that can accommodate all normally encountered variations in rod diameter.

In the accomplishment of these and other objects of this invention in a preferred embodiment thereof, a central support.

for a curtain rod is provided with a base that can be mounted on a wall. A socket is formed on each side of the base in alignment with the axis of the rod, and a hole is provided, also in axial alignment communicating between the two sockets. A rod is cut into two sections, the inside end of each section lodged within a socket and the outside end of each section mounted on a conventional end support bracket. The rod sections are held immovably in place within the center support by a connecting device, such as a double ended screw, passing through the hole and fastening to the inside end of each section. The rod is thus immobilized against any longitudinal movement that would disturb its balanced symmetry. At the same time, it is secured at the middle and at both ends against vertically applied forces to prevent sag or breakage.

Both rod and center support are usually wooden, but this is not essential for the successful operation of my invention. In order to accommodate all variations in rod diameter, the

socket diameters exceed the nominal diameter of the rod by an amount at least equal to the tolerance normally encountered in curtain rods.

My invention lends itself to many variations and decorative embellishments, all of which may employ the unique means presented in the accompanying drawings and description for centrally securing a curtain rod against movement in any direction.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a curtain rod in its operative position supported centrally and at the ends;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, showing the rod sections ready for positioning in the center support;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a center support, taken along the lines 3--3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a center support provided with a slot to support a second curtain rod.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION My invention provides a central support for a curtain rod 10. The support comprises a base element 12, into which a socket 14 is cut on either side in alignment with the axis of the rod 10. A narrow hole 16 communicates axially between the sockets with a diameter sufficient to accommodate means for fastening a rod 10 to the center support. Means are also provided for mounting the base 12 on a wall, such as a countersunk hole 18 through which a screw may be passed into the wall. Although usually wooden, the base 12 may be formed from any convenient material. In the accompanying drawings the sides of the base 12 into which the sockets 14 are cut, are flat, parallel, substantially vertical and normal to the axis of the rod 10, but various other arrangements are possible.

The rod 10, which is usually of the wooden pole type, is supported at either end by conventional support brackets 20. it is cut into two sections 22, (See FIG. 2), and the inside end of each section is then lodged within a socket l4 and secured therein by a double ended screw 24 passing through the hole 16. When in place, the screw 24 bears the weight of the rod inner ends and therefore the support functions properly even without a close fit between the peripheral socket walls and the outer surface of the rod sections 20. This permits the socket diameter to be sufficiently larger than the nominal diameter of a conventional rod to accommodate all normally encountered variations in rod diameter. An excess of H16 inch has been found sufficient for this purpose.

The fastening means 24 may consist of any device capable of protruding beyond both ends of the hole 16 and being secured to the end of rod sections 22. The use of a doubleended screw for this purpose, however, is preferred. The rod 10 is held firmly in place when the base element 12 is mounted on a wall, and once positioned, it is not subject to longitudinal movement that would otherwise disturb its balanced symmetry. At the same time, adequate support is provided at both ends and in the middle of the rod 10 securing it against vertical forces. The arrangement is particularly suitable for home installation and since the user can readily adapt the rod to fit any length, the rod and bracket combination herein described eliminates the need for a large inventory of cut to measure" rods which otherwise would be required for the home installation market. 7

I wish to emphasize that my invention consists of a combination of center and end supports to secure a curtain rod simultaneously against longitudinal movement and to support it against sagging. Decorative designs may be incorporated into the shape of the bracket without changing its character. Other functional features may also be added. For instance, a U- shaped slot 26, may be cut into the upper portion of the center support shown in FIG. 4 to provide central vertical support for another rod positioned between the wall and the rod 10. In addition, I wish to make it clear that the center support of this invention need not be placed exactly at the center of the rod if other positions for it are desired. Also two or more such supports can be used if the rod length is great enough to require it.

Such variations still come within the scope and mode of operation of the invention.

Since various additional modifications will now be apparent to those skilled in the art, it is not my intention to confine the invention to the precise form herein shown but rather to limit it only in terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

I. A curtain rod and support combination wherein a curtain rod extends laterally beyond end support brackets on either side comprising: a curtain rod, end support brackets for mounting the ends of said rod adjacent to a flat surface and supporting same against downward vertical forces, a center support for said rod between said end supports, said rod being severed at an intermediate point, and means associated with said center support for simultaneously securing each end of said rod centrally at the point of bisection to each other and to said center support so that said rod ends coact with said support to resist tilting thereof and so that said center support provides resistance both to longitudinal and vertical forces for said rod.

2. A curtain rod and support combination comprising,

a. a rod, end brackets for mounting said rod adjacent to a flat surface on a substantially horizontal axis, and a center support for said rod;

b. said end brackets adapted to support said rod against downward vertical forces, and to permit substantially free lateral movement of said rod,

. said center support including a base, means for mounting said base on said flat surface, walls on said base forming a socket on each side of said base, said sockets aligned axially with said rod, each said socket adapted to receive an end of said rod, and hole formed in said base communicating between said sockets;

d. said rod comprising two sections, the inside end of each said section lodged respectively in one said socket; and

e. means extending through said hole for joining said sections and for retaining said sections against motion relative to said base and against longitudinal motion relative to said end brackets.

3. The curtain rod and support combination of claim 2, in which said rod is a wooden pole.

4. The curtain rod and support combination defined in claim 2, in which said center support is wooden 5. The curtain rod and support combination of claim 2, in which the diameter of said sockets in said center support is sufficiently larger than the nominal diameter of said curtain rod to accommodate all normally encountered variations in curtain rod diameters.

6. The curtain rod and support combination of claim 2, in which said means for joining said rod sections comprises a double ended screw.

7. A center support for curtain rod comprising: a base, means for mounting said base on a flat surface, walls on said base forming a socket on each side of said base, each said socket adapted to receive an end of a curtain rod, a hole formed in said base communicating between said sockets, and means in said hole extending into each said socket for securing a curtain rod end in each said socket, for holding same against both vertical and longitudinal movement, and for holding said base against tilting when longitudinal forces are applied to said rod.

8. The center support of claim 7, in which said center support is wooden.

9. The center support of claim 7, in which the diameter of said sockets is sufficiently larger than the nominal diameter of a curtain rod to accommodate all normally encountered variations in curtain rod diameters.

i I II 1* 

1. A curtain rod and support combination wherein a curtain rod extends laterally beyond end support brackets on either side comprising: a curtain rod, end support brackets for mounting the ends of said rod adjacent to a flat surface and supporting same against downward vertical forces, a center support for said rod between said end supports, said rod being severed at an intermediate point, and means associated with said center support for simultaneously securing each end of said rod centrally at the point of bisection to each other and to said center support so that said rod ends coact with said support to resist tilting thereof and so that said center support provides resistance both to longitudinal and vertical forces for said rod.
 2. A curtain rod and support combination comprising, a. a rod, end brackets for mounting said rod adjacent to a flat surface on a substantially horizontal axis, and a center support for said rod; b. said end brackets adapted to support said rod against downward vertical forces, and to permit substantially free lateral movement of said rod, c. said center support including a base, means for mounting said base on said flat surface, walls on said base forming a socket on each side of said base, said sockets aligned axially with said rod, each said socket adapted to receive an end of said rod, and hole formed in said base communicating between said sockets; d. said rod comprising two sections, the inside end of each said section lodged respectively in one said socket; and e. means extending through said hole for joining said sections and for retaining said sections against motion relative to said base and against longitudinal motion relative to said end brackets.
 3. The curtain rod and support combination of claim 2, in which said rod is a wooden pole.
 4. The curtain rod and support combination defined in claim 2, in which said center support is wooden
 5. The curtain rod and support combination of claim 2, in which the diameter oF said sockets in said center support is sufficiently larger than the nominal diameter of said curtain rod to accommodate all normally encountered variations in curtain rod diameters.
 6. The curtain rod and support combination of claim 2, in which said means for joining said rod sections comprises a double ended screw.
 7. A center support for curtain rod comprising: a base, means for mounting said base on a flat surface, walls on said base forming a socket on each side of said base, each said socket adapted to receive an end of a curtain rod, a hole formed in said base communicating between said sockets, and means in said hole extending into each said socket for securing a curtain rod end in each said socket, for holding same against both vertical and longitudinal movement, and for holding said base against tilting when longitudinal forces are applied to said rod.
 8. The center support of claim 7, in which said center support is wooden.
 9. The center support of claim 7, in which the diameter of said sockets is sufficiently larger than the nominal diameter of a curtain rod to accommodate all normally encountered variations in curtain rod diameters. 